| answer text |
<p>The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations
2018 came into force on 1 October 2018. These regulations replace outdated Acts, and
are based on modern welfare standards. The Regulations include a requirement for local
authorities to submit data to Defra each year on the number of licences in force for
each licensable activity. The first submission will be required to be submitted to
Defra by 31 May 2019 covering the period October 2018 to March 2019 inclusive. Therefore,
the Department does not currently hold data on the number of licensed dog breeders
under these regulations. Under the previous legislation, there were an estimated 4,950
licensed dog breeders in England.</p><p> </p><p>Breeders of animals other than dogs
are not subject to licensing requirements, unless they are in the business of selling
the animals as pets. Under the previous legislation there were an estimated 2,300
licensed pet sellers in England, but this includes sellers that do not breed the animals
themselves.</p><p> </p><p>Defra does not hold data on the whole of the UK or for individual
Parliamentary constituencies. This information is held by Local Authorities.</p>
|
|
